GB2104849A - Apparatus for securing a wheelchair within a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus comprises a base member 10 for anchoring the apparatus to the vehicle, a stanchion 11 pivotally mounted on the base member so as to be adjustable in rake to conform to the rake of a wheelchair back, and anchorage means 16 on the stanchion for attachment thereto of the wheelchair. The stanchion is preferably in seat back squab form and the apparatus has means 15 for fitting a seat base squab when a wheelchair is not in place. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Wheelchair/vehicle attachment The present invention relates to apparatus for securing a wheelchair within a vehicle.

Arrangements which have been employed for securing a wheelchair and its occupant within a vehicle comprise straps and strap anchors attachable to the vehicle floor and/or sides, perhaps via slotted rails permanently mounted in the vehicle. These arrangements are not always safe intrinsically, but are also somewhat liable to be affected by human error. Moreover it has often been found that the lengthy process of effecting these arrangements has been off-putting if not debilitating to the wheelchar occupant.

The present invention provides apparatus which combines a high degree of safety and assurance thereof with rapidity of setting up and, in the preferred embodiment, with versatility of use.

According to the present invention apparatus for securing a wheelchair within a vehicle comprises: a base member having attachment means for anchoring the base member to the vehicle, a stanchion pivotally mounted on the base member so as to be adjustable in rake to conform to the rake of a wheelchair back, and anchorage means on the stanchion for attachment thereto of the wheelchair.

The anchorage means may also include anchorages for harnesses for restraining the wheelchair occupant within the wheelchair, the stanchion may carry a head rest, preferably of the winged type, or a head rest mounting facility, and the pivotal mounting of the stanchion may also comprise a torsion bar.

According to feautres of the invention the stanchion may comprise a seat back squab or have a mount therefor, and the apparatus may carry means for mounting a seat base squab.

A preferred embodiment of the apparatus will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which depicts the apparatus.

As shown in the drawing the apparatus comprises a base member 10 and a stanchion 11 pivotally mounted on the member 10 by a torsion bar 12 which includes a stanchion rake adjustor 13.

The base member has anchors 14 by which it can be anchored to rails fixed in a vehicle floor, and stubs 1 5 upon which can be mounted a seat base squab when the apparatus is not being used to anchor a wheelchair.

The stanchion 11 is in the form of a seat back squab and carries clamps 1 6 for attachment to a wheelchair, and head rest carriers 1 7 and adjustors 1 8. The apparatus also has harness anchorages 19.

When not in use to anchor a wheelchair the apparatus has a seat base squab attached at 1 5.

In order to prepare the apparatus for use this squab is removed and possibly the apparatus detached from the vehicle rails in order to facilitate positioning of the wheelchair.

The procedure for anchoring the wheelchair in the vehicle using the apparatus now follows. The apparatus is attached to the vehicle rails by the anchors 14. The rake of the squab 11 is then adjusted at 13 to align it with that of the wheelchair back, and the wheelchair is then clamped to the apparatus. Seat harness is then attached using the anchorages 1 9 and a head rest offered to and adjusted on the apparatus.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention the apparatus also carries rearward facing seat base squab mounting stubs so that an attendant can sit close to the wheelchair occupant. In another embodiment the squab 11 carries a hinged table top. In yet another embodiment the base member is adapted for attachment to the side wall of the vehicle rather than the floor, the attachment including lockable pivot means whereby the whole appparatus can be swung, preferably rearwardly with respect to the vehicle, toward the wall, thus facilitating movement of a wheelchair close to the wall. This facility may be of particular value when the vehicle is not wide enought to accommodate three wheelchairs in line abreast.

Claims (Filed 19 April 1982) 1. Apparatus for securing a wheelchair within a vehicle and comprising a base member having attachment means for anchoring the base member to the vehicle, a stanchion pivotally mounted on the base member so as to be adjustable in rake to conform to the rake of a wheelchair back, and anchorage means on the stanchion for attachment thereto of the wheelchair.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the anchorage means include anchorages for harnesses for restraining the wheelchair occupant within the wheelchair.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 and wherein the stanchion carries a head rest.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 and wherein the pivotal mounting of the stanchion comprises a torsion bar.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and wherein the stanchion comprises a seat back squab.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 and wherein the stanchion has a mount for a seat back squab.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and carrying means for mounting a seat base squab.

8. Apparatus for securing a wheelchair within a vehicle and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Wheelchair/vehicle attachment The present invention relates to apparatus for securing a wheelchair within a vehicle. Arrangements which have been employed for securing a wheelchair and its occupant within a vehicle comprise straps and strap anchors attachable to the vehicle floor and/or sides, perhaps via slotted rails permanently mounted in the vehicle. These arrangements are not always safe intrinsically, but are also somewhat liable to be affected by human error. Moreover it has often been found that the lengthy process of effecting these arrangements has been off-putting if not debilitating to the wheelchar occupant. The present invention provides apparatus which combines a high degree of safety and assurance thereof with rapidity of setting up and, in the preferred embodiment, with versatility of use. According to the present invention apparatus for securing a wheelchair within a vehicle comprises: a base member having attachment means for anchoring the base member to the vehicle, a stanchion pivotally mounted on the base member so as to be adjustable in rake to conform to the rake of a wheelchair back, and anchorage means on the stanchion for attachment thereto of the wheelchair. The anchorage means may also include anchorages for harnesses for restraining the wheelchair occupant within the wheelchair, the stanchion may carry a head rest, preferably of the winged type, or a head rest mounting facility, and the pivotal mounting of the stanchion may also comprise a torsion bar. According to feautres of the invention the stanchion may comprise a seat back squab or have a mount therefor, and the apparatus may carry means for mounting a seat base squab. A preferred embodiment of the apparatus will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which depicts the apparatus. As shown in the drawing the apparatus comprises a base member 10 and a stanchion 11 pivotally mounted on the member 10 by a torsion bar 12 which includes a stanchion rake adjustor 13. The base member has anchors 14 by which it can be anchored to rails fixed in a vehicle floor, and stubs 1 5 upon which can be mounted a seat base squab when the apparatus is not being used to anchor a wheelchair. The stanchion 11 is in the form of a seat back squab and carries clamps 1 6 for attachment to a wheelchair, and head rest carriers 1 7 and adjustors 1 8. The apparatus also has harness anchorages 19. When not in use to anchor a wheelchair the apparatus has a seat base squab attached at 1 5. In order to prepare the apparatus for use this squab is removed and possibly the apparatus detached from the vehicle rails in order to facilitate positioning of the wheelchair. The procedure for anchoring the wheelchair in the vehicle using the apparatus now follows. The apparatus is attached to the vehicle rails by the anchors 14. The rake of the squab 11 is then adjusted at 13 to align it with that of the wheelchair back, and the wheelchair is then clamped to the apparatus. Seat harness is then attached using the anchorages 1 9 and a head rest offered to and adjusted on the apparatus. In an alternative embodiment of the invention the apparatus also carries rearward facing seat base squab mounting stubs so that an attendant can sit close to the wheelchair occupant. In another embodiment the squab 11 carries a hinged table top. In yet another embodiment the base member is adapted for attachment to the side wall of the vehicle rather than the floor, the attachment including lockable pivot means whereby the whole appparatus can be swung, preferably rearwardly with respect to the vehicle, toward the wall, thus facilitating movement of a wheelchair close to the wall. This facility may be of particular value when the vehicle is not wide enought to accommodate three wheelchairs in line abreast. Claims (Filed 19 April 1982)

1. Apparatus for securing a wheelchair within a vehicle and comprising a base member having attachment means for anchoring the base member to the vehicle, a stanchion pivotally mounted on the base member so as to be adjustable in rake to conform to the rake of a wheelchair back, and anchorage means on the stanchion for attachment thereto of the wheelchair.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the anchorage means include anchorages for harnesses for restraining the wheelchair occupant within the wheelchair.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 and wherein the stanchion carries a head rest.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 and wherein the pivotal mounting of the stanchion comprises a torsion bar.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and wherein the stanchion comprises a seat back squab.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 and wherein the stanchion has a mount for a seat back squab.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and carrying means for mounting a seat base squab.

8. Apparatus for securing a wheelchair within a vehicle and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.